Rashid Khan determined to honour father’s memory with World Cup success for Afghanistan

Leg-spinning star Rashid Khan says the pain of his father’s sudden death can in part be soothed by honouring him with World Cup success for Afghanistan, who, Khan insists, are no longer content with simply qualifying.

Rashid Khan is poised to be a cult figure at the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England.

• The most bizarre innings in World Cup history
• A cricketer who flew on the photo that defined him
• Rashid ready to test the nerves of Aussie batsmen

War, terror and foolhardy invaders punctuate the story of his ancient land, but nothing could prepare superstar Rashid Khan for this cavernous sorrow.

Fixed on trading tears for triumph, Rashid says pain at his father’s sudden passing will only be soothed by turning Afghanistan into the World Cup’s great disrupter.

Cricket’s 50-over showpiece has become personal for premier leg-spinner Rashid.

Rashid Khan has become a folk hero with Adelaide Strikers’ fans.

“Definitely, it was my dream that he see me in the World Cup for the first time,” lamented No. 1 ICC ranked one-day all-rounder Rashid ahead of Afghanistan’s June 1 tournament opener against Australia at Bristol.

“I wished he was here and could have watched my games.

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“You can’t control it, it is not in your hands.

“We can only pray for him now. We miss him definitely, he was so happy with my success and was always calling me with congratulations.”

A devoted son can’t fill the void left by his guiding light but can honour father Abdul Khahlil’s memory and war-ravaged country on a global stage.

Rashid was preparing for Adelaide Strikers’ New Year’s Eve Big Bash League match against Sydney Thunder when floored by the news of his father’s death. Urged by family to play, Rashid courageously fronted an Adelaide Oval sell-out. For the first time, there was no joy in cult-figure Rashid’s cricket.

A lot of love for Rashid Khan during a tough time for the popular Striker #BBL08 pic.twitter.com/IhP7f8YMcZ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 1, 2019

Having established the Rashid Khan Foundation for impoverished and orphan children months earlier, it was cricket’s ‘million dollar baby’ feeling forlorn as a New Year dawned.

“That was one of the hardest things,” Rashid told The Advertiser.

“It was a quite a tough series for me. I didn’t enjoy myself as much after that as I used to. It was something that put me down.”

The sounds of silence in soulless hotel rooms spooked a grieving 20-year-old despite the torrents of ‘love and support’ from family, Strikers management, staff and fans.

Khan sits on top of the T20I bowling rankings.

The screams of fighter jets fizzing above or suicide bombings at Twenty20 matches in his home city of Jalalabad never rattled Rashid like solitary mourning.

“I was trying to be my best, do my best. That was one of the hardest times I ever had,” said Rashid, the pride of a Nangarhar province lumbered with Afghanistan’s highest battle fatality count.

At the behest of family, Rashid waited until January 7 for a window in the Strikers BBL schedule to make a 21,000km, 36-hour return trip home.

Zachy, the youngest of seven brothers and four sisters in the Khan family, returned to Adelaide with Rashid.

Having extracted a visa for Zachy, at the second attempt from authorities, the siblings found strength in each other until the end of Adelaide’s 2018-19 campaign in February.

“I had to take my little brother all the way from Afghanistan. He was so close to my Dad as well, so upset,” said Rashid, who modestly claims his siblings ‘are better cricketers than me’.

“My Mum told me he wasn’t eating, always thinking of it and in Dad’s room crying. It was good that I take him and get his mind off it,” recalled Rashid.

A POINT TO PROVE

The competitor within saw Rashid steer Afghanistan’s Test win against Ireland in March at Dehradun, then enjoy a supreme Indian Premier League for Sunrisers Hyderabad with Australia’s David Warner.

Rashid bowled Sunrisers within a whisker of an IPL final berth, taking 2/15 in a one-run eliminator final loss to Delhi Capitals despite fasting.

Sunrisers Hyderabad rely on Khan to bowl nerveless death overs of IPL matches.

“It is always tough performing on that stage and a good preparation for me for the World Cup. We had David Warner, Kane Williamson, Bhuvi Kumar. Playing with some big names will give me courage and experience,” said Rashid, who took 17 wickets at 22 this IPL season.

The World Cup is a bittersweet crusade for the son of a car tyre importer.

The battle between the world’s No. 1 ranked ODI all-rounder and heavyweight nations is a welcome distraction from a heavy heart.

There are points to prove for an ambitious nation and its talisman.

Mixing with stars like Kane Williamson has improved Khan’s game.

Rashid welcomes pressure to replicate his Twenty20 dominance against frontline one-day opposition in England. Having massive hands ‘helps’ generate cricket’s fastest leg-spin and wrong’uns concedes Rashid.

“Let us see who does the right things on the day, controls their nerves,” warned Rashid, who dismantled the West Indies two years ago taking 7/18 in St Lucia.

“I will have more time to get the batsman out, switch off T20 and switch on ODI. It doesn’t need to change your skills or slower the ball. You need to be the same rhythm, energy, bowling and speed.

“You just need to be more consistent with your line and length.

“I don’t change a lot. Mostly I bowl in the ODI at the death which in that time the batsman are going for runs. You need to be more patient with ODI, be relaxed.”

NOT JUST MAKING UP THE NUMBERS

Afghanistan figured in its maiden Test against India last year but satisfaction with World Cup qualification irritates warrior Rashid.

Ramadan is a month of reflection for Muslims and the world’s No. 1 ranked T20 bowler believes Afghanistan has the weapons to damage any opponent. A country that repelled British invasion three times between 1838 and 1919 would love to conquer Eoin Morgan’s men on June 16 in Manchester.

Fans in South Australia have taken Khan to their heart in his time in Adelaide.

“It is time for us to deliver something. That will be the main target,” said Rashid, who embodies the confidence of an increasingly free and educated young Afghan generation that thinks ‘we should do something for the country’.

“We prepared hard for it. It doesn’t make sense that we are happy Afghanistan who got the opportunity to be playing at the World Cup.

“Our aim is we are not just going to participate in the World Cup, we need to do something different.”

FOR FAMILY AND COUNTRY

Born in Afghanistan when cricket was outlawed by the Taliban, Rashid is proud of his country’s advance through adversity, adding ‘they are very strong people’.

Khan’s leg-spin is a potent threat for all the teams he plays for.

Double-edged joy for many injured children in Afghanistan can be dancing upon delivery of a prosthetic limb. Rashid knows how World Cup success can light up lives and dreams in his landlocked homeland.

“We have the skills, everything. We won’t have as much experience at the World Cup as other teams but we have to take advantage of our talent and play well in a big situation,” he said.

Scotland was Afghanistan’s only scalp in its 2015 World Cup debut in Australia. The emergence of Rashid and ‘mystery spinner’ Mujeeb Ur Rahman to complement all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has stoked ambition for a semi-final appearance and establishment scalps at worst.

If World Cup favourite England is shouldering expectation at securing a maiden title then Afghanistan, insists Rashid, must bury any remnant of Associate nation mentality.

Afghanistan impressed at last year’s Asia Cup, conquering Sri Lanka and Bangladesh before eliminated at the Super 4 stage by a tie with champion India.

This year’s World Cup will see Khan’s talents exposed to an even bigger audience than ever.

“We need to show the world we are not only good on paper. That was the plan for Asia Cup and will be for World Cup as well,” said Rashid.

“We didn’t do well in the past under pressure but I think this World Cup it is about beating big teams and play good cricket like we did in the Asia Cup.”

Success in England would prove a definitive healing agent for a strife-torn nation and Rashid who lap ups responsibility as its matchwinner.

Rashid feels a rare peace with ball in hand spurring the country he loves while pursuing the destiny a father believed in.

“His memories, positive things are always in my mind. That is the only way I can do it, to perform and make my family happy,” said Rashid.

“I think I should do well.”